The Importance of Being Social

If you play professionally—or
aspire to work
as a bassist—you need
to connect with
other players in
your town and
become part
of the musical
community.

Not so long ago, we musicians were collectively
caught in a crossroads when
first going online to explore the then new
phenomenon known as social networking.
SixDegrees came first in 1997, but the real
revolution began in 2002 with Friendster,
and more importantly, Myspace. Within a
short period of time, our little black books
of contacts were being traded for “friends”
with public profiles, complete with sound
clips and pictures, but also plenty of unrelated
commentary. While bands and musicians
flooded Myspace, so did everyone else,
and this new social outlet eventually turned
into a huge social gathering full of kitten
pictures and spam.

As the popularity of Myspace gave way
to the cleaner, simpler, and, at first, more
exclusive Facebook, the lines became more
blurred. That’s because the relationships on
Facebook were more personal than those
on Myspace, and using Facebook as a true
website like Myspace was initially not really
an option. The powers that be eventually
realized the importance of being able to
separate a personal and professional presence
online, and Facebook is now the web
home for countless musicians and bands.
But just because you have a page on the
blue-banded social networking site, are you
truly networking?

A lot of musicians post themselves on a
Facebook band page with a look-at-me vibe,
hoping that a producer will be magically
blown away by their incredible musical skills
with one click. And there are plenty of others
that post less-than-flattering pictures or
upload poorly recorded, one-take clips that
aren’t even in tune. But even if you record
your best material with the best sonic tools
available, take the best possible pictures with
the best possible lighting, and have a bio
written by the best possible PR firm, there
is still no guarantee that any of that will get
you a gig. You need to take things a step
further and network a little bit.

Before you get to that point, however,
you need to ask yourself what you’re trying
to accomplish with your social media page.
Do you want a record deal, studio gigs, a
touring gig, or to give lessons? Maybe it’s
all of the above. Once you have given this
some serious thought, then you should present
yourself in a good light and focus on
your goal. If you want to be known as a
studio guy, get your best recordings online.
Have pro-looking pictures or video taken of
you in the studio and be sure to list the artists
you have worked with. Apply this same
thinking to being a road guy or a teacher.
Then look it all over and ask yourself:
“Would I hire me?”

Now that your Facebook page looks and
sounds amazing, you need to get the word
out. But you can’t just post a status update
saying you are the best bassist in the world.
Well, you can, but you better have the
goods to follow through. There’s actually a
better way to meet folks and get your name
out there. And it comes from an unlikely
source—your competition.

Here in Nashville, touring and session
player Pete Sternberg started a really cool,
private Facebook page called the “Nashville
Bass Hang.” Pete was looking to create
a sense of local community, help players
network, and offer a forum to buy and sell
gear. To maintain a level of professionalism
and keep the community in check, all
members are either asked to join, or must
go through Pete with a request to join.
Now with over 350 members, the page has
blossomed into a networking dream, and
in my opinion, is one of the better ways to
connect with other players in town.

Nashville has at least 20 bands playing
downtown with three daily shifts, every
single day. That’s a lot of bass slots. Many
touring players supplement their income
with these gigs, but occasionally, previous
commitments get in the way of filling the
slot. In the past, you would go to your
black book and call around to find a player
to sub for you. Now, you can post on
this page and instantly reach out to your
brothers and sisters in bass. Conversely,
players can post their availability, which
can generate work and real money as well.
On the recording side, players aren’t giving
up too many sessions, but again, this
is a great forum to pick the brains of the
players making some of Nashville’s greatest
recordings. It’s also a great way to get real
information on everything from studio gear
to upright techniques to writing a Nashville
number chart.

You may not live in a target-rich town
like Nashville to network your way around,
but that doesn’t mean you can’t start a
movement of your own and reach out to
local musicians in your area. If you are in a
smaller town, you could start a members-only
page that reaches out to all musicians,
not just bassists. Having this kind of outlet
could uncover gigs, help form bands, or just
create a more cohesive scene. More than
ever, musicians need to bond together, and
this is a free and positive way to do it.

Facebook has taken away a lot of personal
interaction between humans in general. And
in place of a phone call, we often tend to post
something and hope someone will respond.
By making the experience more interactive
and community-oriented, we put the power
back in our own hands. Starting a Facebook
page like the Nashville Bass Hang in your
town not only gets your name and goals out
in the cyber world, it can put you in touch
with people that may be able to help you
reach those goals. If you are utilizing social-networking
sites already, then take it a step
further and actually start networking.

Steve Cook is currently
fortifying himself
in the back of a tour
bus, awaiting the low-end
revolution. He can
be reached at info@shinybass.com until the
coast is clear.

Steve Cook started as a touring bass player when printed maps were the only way to get there. His extensive studio and touring credits run the gamut from rock to jazz to country. Also a busy producer and WWII aviation junkie, he welcomes you to reach out via Twitter @shinybass.